Album Review: Knickerbocker All-Stars - Texas Rhody Blues

The latest release (their third) by this ensemble, as the album’s title suggests, pays homage and explores the connection and mutual affection of the Rhode Island blues scene and their counterparts in Texas.

The name of the band comes from the venerable nightclub in Providence, Rhode Island, where various members of this band have played. The state capitol cities of Providence and Austin, on the surface, may not appear to have a whole lot in common, but they have had their share of intra-continental musical symmetry through the years and that is on full display on Texas Rhody Blues.

The liner notes give listeners a quick primer of this relationship while missing one of the most compelling chapters in this saga. No mention is made of the Roomful of Blues/Fabulous Thunderbird gigs that took place in the early 80’s. Those shows, known as “The Roomful of T-Birds Tour”, found like-minded and über talented musicians, from very different parts of the country, playing at the dawn of a blues revival of their own invention. It was during this time that several members of Roomful joined the T-Birds on their 1981 Butt Rockin’ album. The intertwined bands have contributed to each other’s recordings for decades now. Some of these cats play on Texas Rhody Blues.

Roomful co- founder and guitarist Duke Robillard plays and sings on three tracks which feature the guitar of the T-Birds co-founder Jimmie Vaughan. Pianist, and other Roomful co-founder, pianist Al Copley also plays on three tunes as well. Sax men Doug James and Rich Lataille also share a marvelous historical link between both these destinations on the blues highway.

Songs on Texas Rhody Blues by Jimmy McCracklin, Roy Milton, Pee Wee Crayton and Charles Brown remind listeners that the west coast blues traditions can’t really be separated from those associated with Texas. The gulf coast sounds from Houston to New Orleans by Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Eddie Jones aka Guitar Slim, Phillip Walker and Dave Bartholomew are also visited on Texas Rhody Blues.

Vocalists Sugar Ray Rayford, Brian Templeton and Willie J. Laws make great contributions. The rhythm section of bassist Brad Hallen and drummer Mark Teixeira on loan from the Duke Robillard Band are terrific and exhibit just the right amount of swing that this music requires. The big star on Texas Rhody Blues may be “Monster” Mike Welch of Sugar Ray and the Bluestones fame. His guitar playing holds its own with his extremely accomplished and much senior counterparts Robillard and Vaughan.

This record is dedicated to the recently departed Preston Hubbard who played bass for...you guessed it, both Roomful of Blues and the Fabulous Thunderbirds at various times in his career. To put it simply, the entire album is a beauty and one of the best releases of this past year.

- David Mac

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